Anchor escapement for timepieces



1954 M. HUGUENIN 2,654,695

ANCHOR ESCAPEMENT FOR TIMEPIECES Filed June 14, 1952 A ZI Wi/WDK ATTOKZYE) Patented Jan. 5, 1954 2,664,695 ANCHOR ESCAPEMEN T FORTIMEPIECES Marc Huguenin, Genev to Montres Rolex S. a firm ofSwitzerland a, Switzerland, assignor Geneva, Switzerland,

Application June 14, 1952, Serial No. 293,503

Claims priority, application Switzerland August 10, 1951 4 Claims. (Cl.58-121) The present invention has for its object an anchor esca'pementfor time pieces. This escapement is characterized by the fact that atleast apart of the longitudinal edges of at least one bf the pallets orarch-pieces of the anchor is set back with reference to the upper andlower surfaces of the anchor so as to provide, between the projectingwalls of the recesses formed in the anchor for housing the pallets andthe upper and lower surfaces of the latter, dihedral angles that termcapillary paths for a provision of oil, said paths on the upper andlower surfaces of the pallet respectively being connected by transversepaths, also constituted by dihedral angles, the paths on one surfacebeing also connected with the paths on the second surface, by means offurther paths constituted by the dihedral angles formed, on one hand,between the transverse surface of the anchor and the abutment surface ofthe pallet and, on the other hand, between said transverse surface ofthe anchor and the impact surface of the pallet, the last mentioneddihedral angle extending at the utmost over 90.

Appended drawings illustrate by Way of example a preferred embodiment ofmy invention together with several modifications. In said drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portion of the improved escapement.

Fig. 2 illustrates diagrammatically the oil circuit.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale through line 11-11 of theanchor illustrated in Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are cross-sections similar to that of Fig. 3 andcorrespond to various modifications.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a further modification.

In a first embodiment, the anchor illustrated is designated by thereference number I and the escape wheel by the reference number 2. Thepallets of the anchor shown at 3 have their longitudinal ridges 4-5 and6-! set back with reference to th upper surface 8 and to the lowersurface 9 of the anchor respectively. Consequently, dihedral angles aredefined at III, II, l2 and ti! by the upper and lower surfaces l4 and Iof the pallets 3 and by the longitudinal surfaces of the recessesprovided in the anchor. for

the pallets. These dihedral angles form capillary paths for a provisionof oil and are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2. The longitudinal pathsID and II along the upper surface of the anchor are connected by atransverse path I8 constituted by the dihedral angle formed between thebottom wall of the recess housing the pallet and the upper surface 14 ofthe corresponding pallet. A transverse path 11 is formed similarly onthe lower surface I 5 of the pallet. The corresponding longitudinalpaths [0 and Hi to each side of the anchor are connected by a path I8formed by the dihedral angle defined between the abutment surface [9 ofthe pallet and the transverse surface 20 of the anchor. Similarly, apath 2| connects the paths H and I2 on each side of the anchor. Thispath 2| is formed by the dihedral angle defined between the impactsurface of the pallet and the transverse surface 20 of the anchor. Itshould be remarked that bevels 22 are formed in the transverse surfaceof the anchor so that the dihedral angles defining the paths 2| may beacute, which prevents the oil from spreading over the transverse surfaceof the anchor and furthermore the anchor is provided with a heel ortail-piece la such that the dihedral angle defining the path 18 may beright-angled.

The different paths referred to hereinabove form thus a closed circuitillustrated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2 and through which theprovision of oil may flow. The abutment surface I! of the pallets iscomparatively short so that the teeth 2a of the escape wheel may engagethe meniscus formed by the oil in the corresponding path l8 at themoment of an abutment of a tooth on said wheel against the surface I9.The tooth is then laden with oil which lubricates the impulse surface 23of'the pallet. It may then occur that the amount of oil left by thetooth 2a at the moment at which it leaves the pallets collects on theimpact surface. This oil gradually approaches the bevel 22 and finallyenters same, and collects with the oil in the path 2!. The oil thusremoved by the teeth 2a of the escape wheel travels thus over the path24 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In this first embodiment, the surfaces 14 and I5 of the pallets are setback with reference to the surfaces 8, 9 of the anchor. Incontradistinction, in the modification of Fig. 4, the main portions ofthe surfaces 25 and 26 of the pallet 21 are flush with the surfaces 8and 9 of the anchor I and are provided along their longi tudinal ridgeswith bevelled surfaces 28 forming with the sides of the recess providedin the anchor a dihedral angle defining the desired oil path.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, the

bevels 29 extend so as to meet along a medial longitudinal ridge 30 onthe pallet 3i.

In the further modification illustrated in Fig. 6, the upper and lowersurfaces 32 and 33 of the pallet 35 are cylindrical, their medialportions being set back with reference to the corresponding surfaces 8and 9 of the anchor I while, in the otherwise similar modification ofFig. 7, the surfaces 35 and 36 of the pallet 3! that are alsocylindrical have their -medial portion flush with the surfaces 8, 9 ofthe anchor l. The advantage of cylindrical surfacesconsists in that thelongitudinal ridges I ll to It projecting out of the anchor are lesssharp and risk less breaking the oil meniscus.

Lastly, in the modification illustrated in Fig. 8, the pallet 38 isprovided in-its rear portion with a projecting heel 38a forming with theupper and lower surfaces of the pallet body the dihedral angles definingthe transverse paths i6 and I! for the oil. This vmodification allowssecuring the pallet in the conventional manner ,obtained by stickinginsidethe space 39 located between the heel 38a and the bottom of therecess providedin the anchor I for housing the said transverse surface,a pallet fitted in each of said recesses and projecting beyond thetransverse surface of the anchor and at least one of which is set backwith reference to the parallel surfaces of the anchor and definingthereby between the outer surfaces of the pallet, parallel with theparallel outer surfaces of the anchor, and the lateral surfaces of thecorresponding recess, dihedral angles atlthe utmost equal to 90 forminglongitudinal capillary paths adapted to receive a provision of oihotherdihedral angles of the utmost equal to 96 being defined across theparallel surfaces of the pallet and forming transverse paths connectingthe first mentioned longitudinal paths, the transverse surface of theanchor defining with the lateral surfaces of the projecting portion ofthe pallet further dihedral angles forming paths connecting: thelongitudinal capillary paths on the two outer surfaces of the pallet,and a toothed escape wheel cooperating with the anchor pallets.

2. In a time-piece, the provision of an anchor escapement comprising ananchor having two parallel outer surfaces and a transverse surface andprovided with pallet recesses opening into said transverse-surface, apallet fitted in each. of said recesses and projecting beyond thetransverse surface of the anchor and atleast one of which isset backwith reference to the parallel surfaces of the anchor and definingthereby between the outer surfaces of the pallet, parallel with theparallel outer surfaces of the anchor, and the lateral surfaces of thecorresponding recess, longitudinal capillary paths adapted to receive aprovision of oil, shoulders rigid: with the inner end of the pallet,projecting outside the outer surfaces of thepallet and forming withthecorresponding outer surfaces dihedralangles defining transverse oilpaths connecting thefirst mentioned longitudinal paths, the transverse 7surface of the anchor defining with fi lateral surfaces of the projectigportion of the pallet 0 Number further dihedral angles forming pathsconnecting the longitudinal capillary paths on the two outer surfaces ofthe pallet, and a toothed escape wheel cooperating with the anchorpallets.

3. In a time-piece, the provision of an anchor escapement comprising ananchor having two parallel outer surfaces opening into said transversesurface, a pallet fitted in each of said recesses and projecting beyondthe transverse surface on the anchor and at least one of which has itslateral outer surfaces of outwardly convex shape, the ridges of whichengaging the lateral surfaces of the corresponding recess are set backwith reference to the parallel surfaces of the anchor and define therebybetween the outer surfaces of the pallet and the lateral surfaces of thecorresponding recess, dihedral angles at the utmost equal to forminglongitudinal capillary paths adapted to receive a provision of oil,other dihedral angles at the utmost equal to 90 being defined across theouter surfaces of the pallet and forming transverse paths connecting thefirst mentioned longitudinal paths, the transversesurface of the anchordefining with the lateral surfaces of the projecting portion of thepallet further dihedral angles forming paths connectingthe longitudinalcapillary paths on the two outer surfaces of the pallet, and a toothedescape wheel'cooperating with the anchor pallets. V I

4. In a time-piece, including an anchor escapement, comprising an anchorhaving two parallel outer surfaces and a transverse surface and providedwith pallet recesses opening into said transverse surface, twopalletsfitted in said recesses, and a toothedescape wheel cooperatingwith said pallets, each pallet being provided wi th outer surfaces thatare set back with reference to the corresponding outer surfaces of theanchor, and including a terminal operative section projecting beyond thetransverse surface of the anchor, each pallet defining, between itsouter surfaces engaging the recess surfaces and the lateral surfaces ofthe correspond ing recess, longitudinal dihedral angles, other dihedralangles being defined across the parallel surfaces of the pallet, and theterminal section of the pallet forming with the transverse surface ofthe anchor further dihedral angles; the feature that said dihedralangles are at the utmost equal to 90, that they define interconnectingcapillary paths, and that oil is provided in said paths, whereby theteeth of said escape wheel enter the oil meniscus in one of said paths,take drops" of said oil with them, and. leave at leasta part of said oilin another of said paths, the whole in such a way that, as said pathsare interconnected, said oil left by the teeth of the escape wheel canreturn back to the place where it has been taken away MARC HUGUENIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NameDate Johnston Feb. 26, 1901 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerlandcan. July 1,.,1926 Switzerland Decal, 1941 Number

